Rangers look to stay alive against Capitals

NEW YORK (AP)

No, they aren't too young to understand nor are they loaded with
postseason experience. But what they do have seems to be serving
them well, at least so far.

The Rangers will host Game 6 of their first-round series against
the Washington Capitals on Sunday, and they will need to win to
force a deciding contest in the nation's capital on Monday.

Through five games, the home team has come out on top in each -
including New York's two wins at Madison Square Garden in Games 3
and 4 to erase an 0-2 series deficit.

Washington went back ahead 3-2 on Friday by beating the Rangers
2-1 in overtime - the Capitals' second extra-time win in the
series.

''I think the electricity in the building can sometimes get you
through moments where maybe you're sluggish,'' Capitals coach Adam
Oates said Saturday of the benefits of home ice. ''It's your own
confines. You just feel good in your own building.

''They're going to be more desperate, but that can't affect the
decisions. We've still got to play the way we play.''

The Rangers have a bit of recent history to draw upon, as well,
as they came back last year from a 3-2 hole in the first round
against the Ottawa Senators - winning Game 6 on the road and
completing the rally at home in Game 7 - when they were the No. 1
seed in the East.

New York also avoided elimination with a Game 7 win versus
Washington in the second round. So although this situation is
hardly ideal, it isn't unfamiliar or particularly daunting.

''You try to just enjoy it,'' said Rangers goalie Henrik
Lundqvist, who shook off Friday's disappointment in time for a
brief team practice Saturday. ''I'm definitely not thinking it
could be over. That doesn't help your game.

''You go out and focus. I always go and focus on certain things
when I play. I try to enjoy the moment. It's a big game for us,
everybody knows that, but so far we've been doing pretty good at
home.''

That goes for both teams.

The Capitals are bolstered by the knowledge that if the series
is extended to a Game 7, they have 10 wins over the Rangers in
their last 11 playoff home games and five straight.

''Every little play matters. Every play was magnified,''
defenseman Michael Del Zotto said of last year's Game 6 against
Ottawa. ''You just feel so into the game, so alive. It was a big
confidence boost for our club. Hopefully we'll get confidence out
of our next game.''

The Capitals practiced at their rink on Saturday before heading
back to New York.

''You never want to take longer than you need to. It just
eliminates the rest that you can get further on,'' Capitals forward
Troy Brouwer said. ''You give the other team life, thinking that
they're able to come back in the series.

''You've got to have that killer instinct.''

This one has been tight throughout as every game - except for
Washington's 3-1 win in the opener - has been decided by one
goal.

''The atmosphere is unbelievable,'' Capitals captain Alex
Ovechkin said Saturday of playing at Madison Square Garden. ''We
just have to control our emotions and don't take lots of penalties
because we give them chances when they play 5-on-4.

''We just have to be disciplined and stay the same way.''

A penalty turned the tide in Game 5. New York forward Brian
Boyle was called for a retaliation penalty in the second period as
the Rangers were protecting a 1-0 lead.

The Capitals' potent power play took advantage to tie it. It
stayed even until Mike Ribeiro won it at 9:24 of overtime with his
first goal of the series.

''You battle so hard through the regular season to try to get
the home-ice advantage in case there is a Game 7,'' Brouwer said.
''You'd like to have the home crowd and the home familiarity, your
own bed the night before as an advantage, but I think all these
games have just been so close.

''It's just the way they've gone. I don't think it's because one
team is better at home than they are on the road. Everyone is
playing good hockey right now, and it's been an exciting series to
play in.''

Washington is having success despite only one goal and one
assist from Ovechkin, named as a Hart Trophy finalist as NHL
MVP.

The Rangers are looking for a breakout from forwards Rick Nash
and Brad Richards. Both have one point through five games: Richards
with a goal, and Nash with an assist.

''We've just got to win a game on home ice,'' Richards said.
''It's a good opportunity for everybody. We all have confidence
that we play good (at home). We will forget quick and move on to
that.''

Rangers coach John Tortorella didn't even want to address the
notion that it could be his club's final game of the season.

''I don't consider it an elimination game,'' he said. ''We're
trying to win one game. I'm not going to even use that word. We've
bounced back. Guys that haven't been in it, it's an opportunity.
That's the way they have to look at it. We'll go home and try to
win a game.''

The Rangers might again be without rugged forward Ryane Clowe,
who was injured earlier in the series and returned for Game 5 on
Friday. Another hit has knocked him to the sidelines again. He and
fellow injured forward Daroll Powe, who like Clowe might have a
concussion, didn't skate Saturday.

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